Steven Austad, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Cellular & Structural Biology, is the author of several books that make the science of aging understandable to the general public, including one book that has been published in eight languages.

SAN ANTONIO (Jan. 2, 2012) — Steven Austad, Ph.D., has been appointed interim director of the Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, effective Jan. 1. Dr. Austad is a leading figure in comparative biology, which seeks to compare and contrast the biology of longer-lived species with that of shorter-lived species.

He succeeds Arlan Richardson, Ph.D., who recently stepped down as Barshop Institute director after 15 years. Dr. Richardson returned to full-time research.

Author of books on agingDr. Austad, professor in the Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, is author of several books that translate the science of aging for the lay public, including Why We Age: What Science Is Discovering about the Body’s Journey Through Life. This work has been published in eight languages to date.

Wright AwardIn November, Dr. Austad received the 2011 Irving S. Wright Award of Distinction given by the American Federation for Aging Research. He accepted the award in Boston, where he presented the Wright Lecture titled “From Mice to Methuselah: What We Can Learn from the Comparative Biology of Aging.”

The Wright Award is named after the founder of the federation and honors individuals who have made exceptional contributions to basic or clinical research in the field of aging.

Dr. Austad, a well-funded researcher, is conducting studies in diverse models of aging, including bats, ocean clams and mice. He also studies hydra, which are freshwater animals a few millimeters in length that have regenerative ability.

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